Internal-combustion engine



192 o Feb 7 1.. M. WOOLSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Fil Sept. 23 1925 i l6 I4 5 5 z a a k 2 22 I E 2/ a 6cm nag Patented Feb. 8, 1927..

UNITED STATES 1,616,942 PATENT OFFICE.

LIONEL M. WOOLSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PACKARD MOTOR CAR COMPANY OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

' Application filed September 23. 1925. Serial No 57,986.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularly to ignition means therefor.

It is wellknown that it is desirable in an internal combustion engine to have a plurality of, simultaneous sparks at several spaced points in the combustion chamber because by: so doing there is a-more uniform firing ot' the complete charge andfwhat is known as detonation does not result. It is comparatively easy to provide two spark plugs per cylinder for an engine but to provide.

vide an internal combustion engine with ignition, means in which a single spark plug is connected with the combustion chamber by a plurality of separate mixture paths.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the effect of a spark plug ignition is carried to separated points in the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ignition recess in the piston whereby the inertia eltect will insure the mixture reaching the spark plug. a

, Another object of the invention is to provide an engine piston with diverging passages through which the mixture is ignited.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing which forms a partof'this specification, and in which: Fig. 1. is a vertical longitudinal section through a cylinder and piston of an internal combustion engine embodying theinvention, the section bemg substantially. on the line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 10 indicates the cylinder barrel of an internal combustion engine and 11 is the water jacket surrounding the cylinder. At its upper end the cy in der 10 is "formed with a combustion space or chamber 12 and with inlet and outlet ports 13 and 14 respectively. An inlet valve 15 and an outlet valve 16 are provided for these ports. Sliding in the cylinder 10 is a piston 17 having a suitable boss 18 for the piston pin and for connection with the connecting rod, not shown. The piston is shown at the upper end of its stroke. and in this position it forms the lower wall of the combustion chamber 12. In the well-known four stroke cycle engine the exhaust valve will be open and the inlet valve closed when this upper position of the piston is at the end of the exhaust stroke, and this is the position in which the parts are shown, the exhaust valve 16being open. 'hen the piston returns on its next up-stroke, which would be the compression stroke, both of the valves would be closed and the charge would be ready for firing in the combustion chamber.

Two spark plugs 19 are showninounted in opposite-sides of the cylinder 10 and with their ignition points 20 in close proximity to the inner cylinder wall. These spark lu s are so )ositione-d that the are overrun by the piston on its up-stroke as shown in the drawing, so thatthey cannot com-. municate with the combustion chamber when the piston is in that position except through passages or recesses provided in the piston itself or through some similar means. As shown,--the piston 17 is formed with two diverging passages or conduits 21 for each of the spark plugs 19. The passages 21 meet at their lower ends where a recess 22 is formed in the piston As the piston moves downwardly on the intake'stroke, the inertia of the gases causes most of the burnt gas to be withdrawn from the passages 21 and recesses 22, and on the compression stroke the movement of the piston causesmixture to flow into and be compressed in said passages and recesses.

Each of the recesses is in communication with the ignition points 20 of the spark plugs when the piston is at or near the top of its stroke as shown. The upper ends of the passages 21 extend through the upper wall of the piston and the four assages illustrated have their upper en s substantially equally spaced in the top of the piston, as particularly shown in Fig. 3. Thus, if the upper ends of these assages 21 were ignition plugs, they woul if operated simultaneously, fire the charge in the combustion space to the best effect. In effect that is what happens by reason of the fact that upon the compression stroke some of the mixture in the combustion chamber will be compressed in the passages 21 and the two spark plugs 19 will fire that mixture in the recesses 22. This firing of the mixture will be simultaneously communicated to the mixture in the chamber 12 through the four passages 21 and as the upper ends of those passages are relatively spaced in the com bustion chamber the firing of the mixture therein will be uniformly propagated from the four points and no detonation will result, but rather the greatest power will be obtained from the charge.

While I have herein described in some detail a specific embodiment of my invention, which I deem to be new and advanta geous and may specifically claim, I do not desire it to be understood that my invention is limited to the exact details of the constrllCtiOIl, as it will be apparent that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination of a cylinder forming a combustion chamber, a'piston, a spark plug, and means in the piston forming two separate paths for the mixture between the chamber and the spark lug.

2. A piston ormed with two separate diverging ignition passages therein.

3. A piston having two separate ignition passages extending and diverging from the side wall to the top.

aeraees 4.. piston having two ignition passages exten ing from the side Wall to the top, said passages being joined at the side wall and diverging upwardly therefrom.

5. A piston having an ignition recess in,

its side and having two separate ignition passages from the recess to the top of the piston.

6. A piston having an ignition recess in its side and having two separate ignition passages diverging upwardly rrom the recess to the top of the piston.

7. A piston having ignition recesses in opposite sides and having two se arate ignition passages from each of sai recesses to spaced points in the top of the piston.

8. In an internalcombustion engine, the combination of a cylinder formin a combustion chamber and having a spar plug in its side, and a piston in the cylinder ada ted to over-run the spark plug, said piston avin a lurality of separate ignition passages foi meg therein and extending from the combination of a combustion chamber, a piston, a spark plug, and means inthe piston forming a recess communicating with said spark plug and so arranged" that gas is drawn from and caused to flow-into said recess by inertia forces as the engine operates.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LIONEL M. WOOLISON. i 

